Economic Decline Of North Korea
Till the last 20 years North Korea was the most powerful countries of the world. On the basis of nuclear program, the country was progressing so fast that it paid no heed to the whole world including America. But from the last 20 years the country has almost lost its contact with the rest of the world and the country’s economy has deteriorated to a large extent. From the beginning of the 1990, the country was trapped by the famine. After that the country is still unable to recover from various other natural calamities like flood and storm. Due to this, the country has entered in an agreement with America. The country has agreed to stop its nuclear program and in return has asked America to provide the food supply.
Agreement between America and North korea
The isolated North Korea after the death of the veteran leader Kim Jong il, has agreed to stop its nuclear weapon program. This step has enabled North Korea to seek help from the world. Basically after the death of Kim Jong il on 17th December 2011, America has made attempts to stop the uranium enrichment program of North Korea. The current political power of the country is governed by Kim Jong Un and his partners. During the Korean War, America has led its help to South Korea which has resulted in worsening the relations between North Korea and America and North Korea treated America as its enemy. But now it has agreed to compromise with the United States. The reason is that the North Korea is facing the acute shortage of food supply from a long period. America will be providing near about 2.40 lakh ton of food supply to the country who is facing this shortage since 1990. North Korea was engaged in the development of nuclear weapon from three decades which has separated it from America and the neighboring countries.
How did North Korea acquire nuclear weapon technology?
Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the infamous atomic scientist of Pakistan has claimed that North Korea has given bribe to the senior military officials of Pakistan during the 1990s, in order to acquire the nuclear weapon technology. North Korea has taken this step to maintain its power and to make its position strong. According to a renowned English newspaper, Abdul Qadeer Khan has handed over the bribe amount of 30 lakh given by the senior officials of North Korea to the senior military officials of Pakistan. The newspaper has claimed that the documents regarding the bribery were submitted by Khan himself. Khan has also brought into effect the letter which was written by the officials of North Korea. The letter had the detailed information about this confidential agreement. The western detective officers have accepted this letter as genuine but Pakistan has blamed this letter as fake. The letter had the date of 15th July 1998 and on it was written “Confidential”. The letter was signed by the secretary of North Korea workers party, Jon Bayong. In 2000, America has accused Pakistan for providing nuclear weapon technology to North Korea in exchange of destructive missiles.
Will North Korea be able to gain its position back?
Uranium enrichment program
According to many well informed persons, North Korea may overturn as before. It may utilize its uranium enrichment program for more profit. Since North Korea has declared the new plant of uranium enrichment program, the tension of other countries has increased. It was on the basis of this program that North Korea was able to develop the nuclear weapons. Along with this, the country already has atomic program based on Plutonium. According to the informed persons, the new government has decided to work according to the old policy of Kim Jong il. Now after the agreement with America, if there occur any changes in the policy then the possibility of internal conflicts within the country cannot be denied.
Current situation of the country:
North Korea is still unable to produce the staple food as per the needs of the citizens. The country relies on China, Pakistan, Japan and America for its requirements of cereals. According to the report given by the World Food Program, the country might be trapped again in famine by the mid of 2oth century. After this the government sent the urbanized people to help the farmers to produce the crops. By 1997, the country was producing 27 lakh metric tons of provisions while by 2004; it increased to 42 lakh metric tons. But still by 2011 the country is unable to recover from the problem of famine. According to the former president of America, near about one third of the children of North Korea are malnourished and are physically weak due to unavailability of ample food.
Starvation due to natural calamities:
The famine, which began in North Korea in the early 1990s ended in the late 1990s. According to a survey, in this period near about 35 lakh people lost their lives due to starvation. The highest number of death occurred in 1997. During the beginning of 1990, the country’s economy was on its way to collapse. The growth increased from 1950-1989 due to investment in the basic facilities of the field of agriculture, industries and energy. In spite of this after the disintegration of Soviet Union, there began an industrial decline in North Korea. Initially, due to the shortage of new technology, important agricultural equipments and fertilizers and fuel, the government has emphasised people to do more hard work. Along with this stress was given on measures like not to eat more than twice a day. But still the economic downfall continued. The country’s backbone was broken and the situation worsened with calamities like flood and storm. According to the survey of United Nations, near about 15 lakh tons of provisions were wasted in the flood of 1995. Due to declining economy and the natural calamities, North Korea was unable to import food products from abroad.
The military of North Korea is the fourth biggest army in the world. The North Korean military has more than 11 lakh soldiers. The country has the third largest stock of chemical weapons. But in spite of this the citizens of the country cannot get suuficient amount of food to eat. The people are made to take only 700 calories instead of 1400 calories per person. Some people are unable to get even this much amount of food. Not only has this but in some parts of the country, the breakdown of water system has led to impure water supply to 40% of the people.
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